Locking closure for containers



Jufiy 1 1924-. 1,499,88

M. A. LAWTON LOCKING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l \nvenTor.

' (UK A. Luwhn bymwa AHysh MM 1924c Lwwm M. A. LAWTON LOCKING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12. 1923 2 sheds-sheet 2 Patented duly l, ieaa MARK A. LAWTON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

Application filed January 12, 1923. Serial No. 612,285.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, MARK A. LAWTON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Locking Closures for Containers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the draw ing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a closure for a container having an opening, and the ob-. ject is to provide a new and improved. locking closure.

The closures now in general use usually consist of a cap closing the opening in the container, or in the pipe leading to such opening, with no locking means, and the opening is often not tightly closed and gases in the reservoir may escape.

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a gas and fluid tight closure for the opening into a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure for the opening in a con tainer which may be locked in its closed position.

{)ther objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, and will he particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate both in perspective and in detail a preferred form of the invention, and modifications thereof, enihodying the broad principles of the invention.

in the drawings:

1 is iew partly in section and partly in elc anon, of the preferred form of invention;

2 is a top view of the closure shown 1 with the top cover removed; a ined iied in connection with a gasoline container to keep the fumes of the gas from escaping and to keep water from entering the containcr, and also to prevent unauthorized persons from having access to the contents.

As illustrated herein the closure consists of a housing, 1, having a small threaded section, 2. for connection with, the outer end of the pipe through which the container of liquid is filled or with the opening itself, if there he no intermediate pipe, and an enlarged section, 3. The housing may be of any suitable metal. If this casting for example is made of iron then a threaded brass ring, 4;, is driven in tightly a recess formed in the top of the enlarged section of the housing. A removal top, 5, for the enlarged section of the housing is hel by the ring, thereby forming a liquid and gas-proof covering for the opening of the container. The top may have lugs, depressions, or any other means for assisting in its removal from the housing.

An annular flange, 6, forms the upper portion of a sleeve connected with the small section of the housing and extending into the enlarged section of the housing. This sleeve may be connected with the small section in any convenient manner as by threads cut thereon and in the housing. A shoulder, 7, is formed on the flange to bear against the housing in order to give a gas and liquid tight joint, and a removable cap, 8, is adapted to close the upper end of the annular flange, and be locked in place thereon in such a way as to give another gas and liquid tight joint. in the preferred form of invention threads are cut. on the cap and on the upper part of the flange so that, the cap may be screwed on the flange, thus reinovahly holding the cap in place. polygonal hoes, ti, pro the cap and an apertured iron";

' tion in which its ends will not hit the tops of the lugs while the bar is being seated on the boss. The bar has a horizontal portion, 12, resting on and extending across the top of the cap, and Vertical portions, 13, extending far enough below the top of the cap to engage, if the cap should be rotated, with stationary abutments such as lugs, 14, which are fixed with regard to the opening and preferably formed on the inside of the enlarged section of the housing. The bar thus formed, and in the position shown in Fig. 1, is a locking bar, but when it is desired to remove the cap the bar may be reversed in position with the vertical portions extending upwards and thus used as a wrench to assist in unscrewing the cap. A securing means, 15, cooperates with the aperture in the ear to hold the locking bar in position. This securing means may be an ordinary padlock and is preferably anchored to the bar by any anchoring means, such as the chain, 16.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is the same as the preferred form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 except that the locking bar, 17, is hinged at 18 on one side of the cap, and has only one vertical portion to engage with the lugs, 14, of the housing. There is no hexagonal boss and the apertured ear, 19, is formed directly on the top of the cap. A securing means, not shown, may be used in conjunction with the apertured ear in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1

and 2. The locking bar may be swung from its horizontal locking position to a vertical position. shown in dotted lines, and in this position may be used as a wrench to assist in removing the cap.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, lugs, 20, are formed on the inside of the upper section of the annular flange and a movable member 21, is secured on the under side of the cap for engagement with the lugs to lock the ca A securing means, such as an ordinary Tale or other lock, 22, extends through the top of the cap and has means, 23, for throwing the movable member, or locking bar. into or out of locking position. In this modification lugs, depressions, or other means. 24, are formed on the cap to assist in removing the cap from the end of the annular flange.

Having thus described th invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A locking closure for a container having an opening, comprising a housing surrounding the opening. a removable top for the housing, a removable cap for the opening, a stationary abutment within the housing, and means carried by the cap and angularly adjustable thereon for engagementwith said abutment and locking the cap a ainst removal.

2. 1% locking closure for a container hav ing an opening, comprising a housing surrounding the opening, a removable top for the housing, an annular flange communicating with the opening and projecting into th housing, a removable cap for the annular flange, a stationary abutment within the housing and a lockin bar carried by the cap and angularly adjustable thereon for engaging said abutment and locking the cap against removal.

3. A locking closure for a container having an opening, comprising a housing surrounding the openin a removable top for the housing, an annular flange communicating with the opening. and projecting into the housing, a In fixed inrelation to the flange, a remova le cap for the annular flange, a polygonal pro ection on the cap, a member having a corresponding aperture and a projecting end for engagement with said lug and means for locking the member in place on the projection and thereby preventing the unscrewing and removal of the cap, th form of the projection and aperture permitting the member being secured to the cap in such differing annular relations that the end of the member does not engage the lug While being secured on the cap.

4. A locking closure for a container having an opening, comprising a housing surrounding the opening, a removable top forthe housing, lugs fixed in the housing, a screw threaded annular flange communicating with the opening and rojecting into the housing, a screw threade removable cap for the annular flange, an apertured ear projecting from said cap, a U-shaped locking member with an aperture in its central portion for registry with said ear. the end portions acting when straddling the cap. to engage said lugs if the cap be unscrewed and prevent removal of the cap. and securing means engageable with the aperture in said ear for fastening the locking member in osition.

n testimony whereof, I have signed mv name to this specification.

MARK A. LAWTON. 

